Tuesday 6th of October 6:00pm-9:00pm (Free)A great opportunity to purchase some affordable original artworks and raise some much needed funds for Roomies ArtspaceThe exhibition will run from 6th-21st of October, 2009Chauvel Cinema Gallery, Paddington Town Hall(Cnr Oxford St and Oatley Road)Paddington NSW 2021What Touched My Soul is photography competition that gives talented amateur and semi- professional photographers an opportunity to exhibit their work to a wider audience as well as using ‘creative’ advocacy for mental health issues by submitting works that ‘touched their soul’.These photographs will be judged by Sandra Barnard-Professional printer for Sandy Prints, Stephen Dupont- Award Winning Photo Journalist, Bronwyn Rennex- Director of Stills Gallery and Malcolm Smith- Program Manager for the Australian Centre for Photography.The exhibited photographs will be on sale for $200.00 each at the Chauvel Cinema Gallery in Paddington. 50% of each photograph sold, will be split evenly between the artist and Roomies Artspace.PART OF SPIRIT OF SOUL FESTIVAL

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

AART.BOXX is an exhibition of works by emerging artists and creative thinkers with disability. In 2009, AART.BOXX has expanded to include works by artists of all ages from around the country. 24 artists have been chosen from over 85 applications to feature in the exhibition in the Mori Gallery.

AART.BOXX will be opened on Thursday 29 October 6-8pm by Christine Morrow, Coordinator of Verge Gallery, University of Sydney Union.

Now in its fourth year, Accessible Arts’ AART.BOXX project has grown into an exhibition of national significance that provides a creative platform for artists with disability.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Denise is a fabulous Roomies supporter and often works with Clarice Collien. This SMH article by Sunanda Creagh, January 14, 2009 is worth quoting in full!

WHERE other graffiti artists use spraypaint, Denise Litchfield uses wool.

Litchfield is part of a growing global movement of guerilla knitters, who stitch their handmade creations onto trees, poles, street lights and other objects in the public domain.

"It redefines street art and is also a reference to graffiti," the Stanmore woman said. "It's absurd and feminine and fun."

Using recycled or cast-off yarn, Litchfield has attached her creations to poles and trees in Newtown and Rozelle and her long-term goal is to knit cosies for fire hydrants and bollards.

Ms Litchfield also pokes fun at the notion of a graffiti "tag" by creating cardboard swing tags similar to those attached to items in a boutique.

"I write messages on them and put them on bikes and dogs. One friend said she was walking down King Street and saw a tag that said 'All your problems have been taken care of' and thought, 'Yeah, I needed to hear that,' " Litchfield said.

"I have been doing it for about six months and I don't know of anyone else doing it in Sydney. I haven't been intercepted by a council ranger yet but often when I put them up people stop to ask what I am doing and to have a chat," she said.

Litchfield has won the support of a Marrickville councillor, Peter Olive.

"I'd be only too happy for her to do some knitting in the Marrickville local government area," he said. "I see it as a form of art and it's not harmful or anyone else's property or the public space. I think it should be encouraged."

Emily Howes, an expert from University of Technology, Sydney, and author of a PhD thesis on "indie craft", said guerilla knitters operated in Scandinavia, the US, Japan and South Africa. She thinks Litchfield might be Sydney's first.

"I think there is a groundswell of activity. The really big guerilla craft group is a collective called Knitta, which has outposts around the world," she said. "They see craft as a subversive and politically motivated act - a way of jolting people out of their comfortable reverie

Roomies Artspace's Fan Box

'houses' by Kevin Woods

Roomies Artspace

is a non-profit community art studio in Marrickville. It relies on donations, volunteers and fundraising to keep the doors open for boarding house artists to attend workshops and develop their own art practice.

ROOMIES ARTSPACE is an initiative of Newtown Neighbourhood Centre's Boarding House Project. It was opened in October 2005 by Archibald prize winning artist Cherry Hood.

Volunteering is fun!Roomies is looking for volunteers. Hang out with amazing artists, help out with a workshop or simply come and visit.

Have any art supplies you dont want?

We'd love to have them.If you are looking for a different art experience, have some spare time and skills to share we would like to hear from you!